How many guns in the U.S.?

[gondorian]

So I've been trying to find some good statistics for a paper that I'm writing, but the most recent I have is from 2001-2002 that is an ATF estimate of there being 259 million guns (in private hands I think). Does anyone know where I can find some better data than this? Have there been any estimates since the 2008 election gun rush? Thanks for your help.

 

[chevyforlife21]

theres alot think of all the guns just sitting at the factory every day waiting to get shipped

 

[C-grunt]

I think the FBI study just came out like 2 weeks ago and stated somewhere close to 300 million privately owned firearms. Also stated violent crime is continuing to decline.

 

[withdrawn34]

Depends on who you ask. Ask the Bradies and they'll give you numbers and try to make it seem like only two people in the entire country own guns and they're terrorists.

 

[MT GUNNY]

The only number that matters is the number of gun owners right? What would the number of guns in the These United States show?

 

[Extremely Pro Gun]

I own 5!! And im only 19. Ive got a long way to go.

 

[essayons21]

Not enough?

 

[wishin]

This site has a wealth of gun info. Don't know how current the data is.
http://gunsafe.org/position statements/Guns and crime.htm

 

[zignal_zero]

i'm not that great with numbers, but i'm guessing there has to be like atleast 12 or 15 thousand

 

[CoRoMo]

...300 million privately owned firearms.

Be interested to know the number of combined private, LE, and military firearms within our borders. The number wouldn't really have much significance, but would probably be staggering. Or what'd be the approx. ratio of private vs. LE & military? Hmmmm.

 

[TeamPrecisionIT]

Well, how many blades of grass are there? That tells you how many rifles, so now we have to figure out shotguns, handguns, and everything else and then we would know!

Damian

 

[gbran]

300 mllion firearms in the US? You'd think with that many guns, there wouldn't be anyone left alive. This alone is proof that our problems are caused by people, not guns.

 

[Librarian]

Question How many guns in the U.S.?
So I've been trying to find some good statistics for a paper that I'm writing, but the most recent I have is from 2001-2002 that is an ATF estimate of there being 259 million guns (in private hands I think). Does anyone know where I can find some better data than this? Have there been any estimates since the 2008 election gun rush? Thanks for your help.

Too early for good numbers from 2008 - those reports seem to lag by a year to 18 months.

ATF publishes their manufacturers numbers (including exports) here.